Summary Of Robert T. Perry On Real Education

Rhetorical Analysis College and postsecondary education are a vital part of the education system that in recent years has become a preliminary requisite for obtaining a job. Because of this, there are less qualified applicants for jobs than ever before. In his essay “On ‘Real Education’”, Robert T. Perry refutes some of Charles Murray’s ideas and effectively convinces the reader that this country needs more college graduates to fill new jobs and support the growing knowledge economy. Perry achieves this by employing appeals to the reader’s emotions and logic, as well as utilizing hard data gathered as a comparison of leading nations around the world and in his home state of South Dakota. Control of a person’s emotions can really sway
He also states that “60 percent of all new jobs and 40 percent of manufacturing jobs will require a postsecondary education” (625) of any form as well. Over the past couple of decades, the United States has held the enviable title as the leader in educational attainment. “However, in recent years, we have fallen back to tenth behind other nations in the percentage of young adults with postsecondary education. In order to match such nations as Canada, Japan and South Korea, the U.S. will need to produce around 63.1 million degrees by 2025. At the rate we are going now, we would fall short by 16 million degrees” (626). This evidence helps the author persuade the reader by allowing them to see how the United States is no longer top in the world and how we can get back to the top in percentage of adults educated. This fact can be motivating because of the United States’ great national pride and the need to be the best in the world in every possible aspect. It is also important to note that the American people are very resilient and will do almost anything to stay
New systems and policies have been instituted by the State Higher Education Executive Officers to make college access and success a national priority. These policies include: Targeting low-income and first-generation students, “overhauling the notoriously complex financial aid system” (627), and developing new information systems. Low-income and first-generation students are statistically the least likely to succeed in college and complete their degree study programs. People who fall into this category are targeted by allocating greater public resources to community colleges and regional four-year institutions, while also providing need-based financial aid. The financial aid system is obviously complex and difficult to understand. One way to create ease of access to this program is to allow data for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid directly transferable from the federal income tax form. Pell Grants should also be slated to students’ basic living needs and not tuition to highlight the responsibility of the states and colleges to provide grants for tuition to low-income students and moderate tuition and fees based on students’ financial status. As for the development of the information system, it better tracks students’ progress and determines whether they are at risk of dropping out.